In a recent policy shift affecting international students applying to study in Canada, Ottawa has announced the immediate termination of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a statement on Friday explaining that the SDS initiative, which was launched in 2018, aimed to “provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students” and had expanded to include applicants from 14 countries, such as India.
The IRCC stated that Canada’s goal is to “strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and ensure equal and fair access for all applicants,” which has led to the SDS closure as of November 8. Previously, SDS allowed for faster study permit processing times with higher approval rates for qualified applicants.
Going forward, applications will be processed under the regular stream. According to Naresh Chavda, the president of Globayan Immigration Corporation, the SDS program initially catered to students from India and China, then expanded to other countries, offering a simplified evaluation process for those meeting language and financial criteria along with a letter of acceptance from a Canadian institution.
Under SDS, permits were processed within four weeks -- half the time taken in the regular stream -- and had a 95% approval rate. Chavda remarked, “They’ve closed a program designed to attract students, likely to limit the intake of international students.”
The decision may impact student interest in Canada, potentially shifting it to other destinations. Meanwhile, IRCC set a target for study permits in 2025 at 437,000, down from 485,000 in 2024, and this stabilized number will also apply in 2026.
IRCC has been implementing changes related to international students since late last year. On December 7, it announced that new study permit applications from January 2024 onward must show financial proof of CA$20,635, up from CA$10,000.
Further, beginning in December 2023, designated learning institutions (DLIs) will be required to verify each applicant's acceptance letter through IRCC.
